Sharjah: Tourist numbers in Sharjah increased by seven per cent in the first five months of the year.
The latest report by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) states: "The total number of guests staying in the emirate's hotels and hotel apartments reached 637,390, a seven per cent increase compared to the 594,105 guests reported for the same period in 2009."
According to the new findings, there was also a 70 per cent hotel occupancy rate, in the same period, compared to the 67 per cent in the corresponding period of 2009.
The SCTDA's statistics show that European tourists accounted for 46 per cent of the total tourist arrivals, while GCC travelers accounted for 25 per cent; tourists from Asia made up 14 per cent; while holidaymakers from other Arab countries accounted for 10 per cent.
The remaining five per cent came from the Commonwealth, the USA, Africa and the Pacific region, it said.
Commenting on these figures, Mohammad A. Al Noman, SCTDA Director General said: "The SCTDA is focusing on a clear strategy based on targeting leading markets that are important for parties concerned with the tourism industry, as well as on organising activities and events that would contribute directly to the promotion of tourism by taking part in the world's largest tourism and trade exhibitions and organising promotional tours all over the world."
